Republican Party (GOP)NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Republican Party (GOP)Fri, 14 Oct 2016 01:01:52 +0000Republican Party (GOP)http://wvtf.org
Michael PopeRepublicans across Virginia are struggling to figure out how to handle their relationship with Donald Trump in the wake of his hot mic moment on the Access Hollywood bus. So far, only one prominent Republican is calling for the candidate to step down. Comstock is First Prominant Virginia Republican to Ask Trump to Step Asidehttp://wvtf.org/post/comstock-first-prominant-virginia-republican-ask-trump-step-aside
64605 as http://wvtf.orgMon, 10 Oct 2016 20:11:35 +0000Comstock is First Prominant Virginia Republican to Ask Trump to Step AsideMatt LasloEven before Donald Trump got in hot water for his remarks about a Mexican American judge and implicating President Obama in the Orlando attack, House Republicans were planning to unveil their own agenda this summer. Official Platform Goal for Republicans Before National Convention http://wvtf.org/post/official-platform-goal-republicans-national-convention
58939 as http://wvtf.orgThu, 14 Jul 2016 16:55:14 +0000Official Platform Goal for Republicans Before National Convention Michael PopeAs Republicans prepare to gather in Cleveland for their convention, a federal lawsuit in Virginia is giving new life to the Never Trump movement. But the win in court may be more of a symbolic victory. Virginia Law Binding Delegates to Presidential Nominee Tossedhttp://wvtf.org/post/virginia-law-binding-delegates-presidential-nominee-tossed
58731 as http://wvtf.orgTue, 12 Jul 2016 00:00:39 +0000Virginia Law Binding Delegates to Presidential Nominee TossedMallory Noe-PayneA Richmond judge has ruled a group of Virginia state senators in contempt of court -- for failing to turn over documents that could be helpful in an ongoing lawsuit. VA State Senators in Contempt in Redistricting Casehttp://wvtf.org/post/va-state-senators-contempt-redistricting-case
51940 as http://wvtf.orgFri, 08 Apr 2016 18:06:55 +0000VA State Senators in Contempt in Redistricting CaseMatt Laslo With a changing of the guard afoot at the U-S Capitol, Speaker John Boehner’s sudden resignation is revealing deep disagreements within the Republican Party...and it's on display in the Virginia congressional delegation. Virginia seems to have just missed out on having one of the most powerful people in the nation hail from the state. Eric Cantor was the House Majority Leader and was largely seen as Speaker Boehner’s successor until he got ousted in a primary by Dave Brat. Republican Congressman Scott Rigell says the state is feeling Cantor’s loss now. “There is no question that we miss Eric both on a personal level and also on the influence and prestige and just the direction that he could turn this institution the Majority Leader is a very powerful position.” While the state looks to be missing out on a lot of clout, Congressman Brat doesn’t have any regrets for challenging and beating him. “I’m glad I’m here.” Brat is a member of a new group within the Republican Party called theVirginia Congressional Lawmakers: A Divided Partyhttp://wvtf.org/post/virginia-congressional-lawmakers-divided-party
43711 as http://wvtf.orgWed, 07 Oct 2015 17:07:28 +0000Virginia Congressional Lawmakers: A Divided PartyTommie McNeilVirginia voters’ partisan preferences will remain unknown -- if they so choose -- after a bill that would have required registration by political party narrowly dies after Senate debate. The bill was sponsored by a Republican - and effectively killed by another Republican. Unlike most other states, Virginia currently allows any registered voter to cast a ballot in any party’s primary. The bill, sponsored by Senator Mark Obenshain, would have given parties a choice of opening specific primary elections to all voters-or not. GOP Senator John Watkins voted against the measure and explained why. “I’m very concerned of this direction, because I think that it does breed control by parties rather than by people. And I don’t really think that the forefathers had that in mind.” The bill failed on a 19-21 vote. The measure had gained support after many Democrats voted in the GOP primary that ousted former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and helped pave the way for Congressman David Brat. Party Affiliation Bill Dies in the General Assemblyhttp://wvtf.org/post/party-affiliation-bill-dies-general-assembly
32601 as http://wvtf.orgWed, 28 Jan 2015 12:57:42 +0000Party Affiliation Bill Dies in the General AssemblyKelsea PietersIt might be difficult to tell how someone affiliates politically just by looking at them, but an international team of scientists has come close. They’ve found a way to predict a person’s party of preference by how they react to gruesome images – with 95 to 98 percent accuracy. Dr. Read Montague is a neuroscientist at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute. He says this study was inspired by his colleagues, who, after observing twins in Australia, suggested that political ideology is inheritable and can be predicted by compulsory emotional reactions. Although doubtful at first, his skepticism was proved wrong. In the Virginia Tech study, participants were shown positively, negatively, and neutrally emotionally evocative photographs while in a brain scanner – and afterward, they completed a political ideology survey “It’s 23 items and you rank the degree to which you disagree or agree with words and word phrases – you know, it might say like ‘abortion’ or ‘big government.’” AndPredicting Party Affiliationhttp://wvtf.org/post/predicting-party-affiliation
29506 as http://wvtf.orgFri, 14 Nov 2014 12:23:37 +0000Predicting Party AffiliationBeverly AmslerVirginia Republican Congressman Morgan Griffith is accusing the Justice Department of playing partisan politics by investigating a resignation that tilted power in the Virginia Senate. When Democrat Phillip P. Puckett resigned from the state Senate it gave Republicans a one vote majority in the middle of the heated budget standoff in Richmond. That smells fishy to Justice Department officials who are investigating whether he was bribed by a job offer from Republicans who wanted to tilt control of state Senate. But Congressman Griffith says it’s the DOJ probe that smells fishy. “I don’t think it’s criminal, but you can make an argument it’s not proper. I think that’s for the electorate to decide. But if you make that argument you’ve got apply the same rules across the board. That’s not happening here.”Griffith sent a three page letter to the DOJ outlining why he questions their probe into Puckett’s resignation. He says Puckett’s not the only person to resign and send ripple effectsAccusing the DOJ of Partisan Politicshttp://wvtf.org/post/accusing-doj-partisan-politics
23835 as http://wvtf.orgFri, 04 Jul 2014 18:51:07 +0000Accusing the DOJ of Partisan PoliticsTommie McNeilOne reason it's prudent for lawmakers to review the fine print of amendments offered to the Virginia state budget is because it may contain legislation that might not pass both houses on its own. Such is the case with an amendment approved by the House and attached to its version of the state budget. It directs the executive branch on how to proceed in controversial cases, such as the lawsuit challenging Virginia's same-sex marriage ban. The GOP was outraged when Attorney General Mark Herring reversed the state's defense of traditional marriage AND joined the plaintiffs in the case. The caucus was also appalled when Governor McAuliffe chose not to intervene. The House passed one bill that gives lawmakers standing to defend state law in such cases, but its Senate fate was in doubt. So Republican Delegate Todd Gilbert offered a budget amendment. Democratic Delegate David Toscano was opposed. The bill gives the House Speaker authority to appoint special counsel to represent Virginia whenPlaying Politics with the State Budgethttp://wvtf.org/post/playing-politics-state-budget
17575 as http://wvtf.orgFri, 21 Feb 2014 20:44:51 +0000Playing Politics with the State BudgetTommie McNeilVirginia House Speaker Bill Howell and other GOP members of that chamber are characterizing the first half of the General Assembly session as a success. Howell says many of their key initiatives have passed, and they worked well with Democrats. But when asked if the House will work with the Senate on passing Medicaid expansion, GOP leaders still say they just don't see that happening. Medicaid is already the most expensive single program in the General Fund budget. Howell referenced the Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission created last year to examine Medicaid, cut costs, and propose efficiencies, and he says it still has a lot of work to do. House Appropriations Chair Chris Jones says from what they've seen so far, adding so many more Virginians to the program would be unsustainable. It’s been suggested that some Republicans in both houses are siding with Governor McAuliffe, who campaigned on Medicaid expansion. Howell says while it’s true that not everyone in his caucus has theGeneral Assembly Updatehttp://wvtf.org/post/general-assembly-update
17193 as http://wvtf.orgWed, 12 Feb 2014 21:57:26 +0000General Assembly UpdateTommie McNeilThe certification of the election of former Delegate Lynwood Lewis to the Virginia Senate ultimately gives Democrats control over that chamber. Although its partisan split is now 20-20, Democratic Lt. Governor Ralph Northam presides over the Senate, giving his caucus the tie-breaking vote to pass whatever rules it chooses. Today's order of business was all about Democrats subtly making a statement about control. The Senate spent most of the day debating about the rules set when the Republicans controlled the chamber. Those rules were thrown out, and GOP Senate Leader Tommy Norment and Democratic Senator Donald McEachin dominated the floor discussion, with Norment essentially asking: "Where do we go from here?" Senators then proceeded to debate NEW rules that will govern the chamber. When Republican Lt. Governor Bill Bolling first presided over the evenly split Senate, Democrats balked at the notion that it was a GOP-dominated chamber. Now it's come full circle, and until the dustState Democrats Plan Senate Controlhttp://wvtf.org/post/state-democrats-plan-senate-control
16502 as http://wvtf.orgTue, 28 Jan 2014 21:11:24 +0000State Democrats Plan Senate ControlTommie McNeilRepublican State Senator Mark Obenshain is turning to a special court that includes the chief Richmond Circuit Court judge … to aid him in a ballot recount of the closest statewide race in modern Virginia history. Although his Democratic opponent, Mark Herring, has been certified the winner in the Attorney General's election by a 165-vote margin, Obenshain and his team believe there's a chance that votes were missed or might be invalidated. Although this recount is reminiscent of the 2005 Attorney General's race, Obenshain attorney Steven Piepgrass says it will be handled differently—under a new state law passed since then which requires more votes to be re-tabulated. "All optical scan ballots will be re-run and then any ballots that are spit out by the optical scan machines will be counted by hand, so that it is a major difference from past recounts." Republicans have taken issue with the last-minute discovery of two-thousand absentee ballots in Fairfax County, a stronghold forMark Obenshain Requests a Recounthttp://wvtf.org/post/mark-obenshain-requests-recount
13912 as http://wvtf.orgWed, 27 Nov 2013 22:08:41 +0000Mark Obenshain Requests a RecountSandy HausmanWith the election of Ralph Northam to be Virginia’s next lieutenant governor, his state senate seat will open, and there will be a special election to replace him. It’s a vote that could have statewide implications. Right now, there are 20 Democrats and 20 Republicans in Virginia’s Senate, and with Lt. governor Bill Bolling casting tie-breaking votes, the GOP ‘s been able to pass plenty of legislation. Now, a Democrat will preside, and if Ralph Northam’s seat is filled by another Democrat, that party would have control. At the Virginian Pilot, political reporter Julian Walker says it’s difficult to say how the Sixth District, which encompasses Norfolk and the Eastern Shore, will go. “It went for President Barack Obama in 2012, however in the 2009 election it went comfortably for Governor Bob McDonnell.” And turnout for special elections is usually low, which means issues and personalities may not decide this race. “I mean this is such a compressed election that I don’t know that thisSpecial Election in the 6th Districthttp://wvtf.org/post/special-election-6th-district
13320 as http://wvtf.orgThu, 14 Nov 2013 21:55:12 +0000Special Election in the 6th DistrictTommie McNeilVirginia Attorney General candidate and State Senator Mark Obenshain isn’t accepting defeat now that an UNOFFICIAL Board of Elections tally gives his Democratic opponent, Senator Mark Herring, a 164-vote lead. Obenshain says it's too early to talk about a recount, but while he waits for the final numbers, he’s putting together a transition team-as permitted under state law. Obenshain says it's happened before-a race so close that after the unofficial votes were counted and favored one candidate, the recount wound up favoring the other candidate. While Herring has claimed victory, Obenshain says it's just posturing-since after all, Herring hasn't given up his Senate seat. But then Obenshain was asked if it's premature to name a transition team: Obenshain says he is concerned about the ballot irregularities in Northern Virginia, in which roughly two thousand absentee ballots were found at the last minute, shifting the lead toward Herring. But Obenshain says he's not going to "cry foul"Mark Obenshain's Next Stepshttp://wvtf.org/post/mark-obenshains-next-steps
13319 as http://wvtf.orgThu, 14 Nov 2013 21:44:52 +0000Mark Obenshain's Next StepsBeverly AmslerAccusations are flying in Virginia’s gubernatorial contest about whether someone born outside of the Commonwealth is well suited to serve. Upon flipping through some records, our Capitol Hill reporter found that Virginians aren’t really wedded to the idea of being represented by native sons - or daughters. The founding fathers considered place - or geography - to be vital to democracy. They apportioned representatives in the House based on the population in each community so they could act as a conduit between citizens and their government. But of Virginia’s thirteen-member congressional delegation, only two House members were born in the Commonwealth, and neither senator hails from Virginia soil.“We are a transient place, you know that kind of native soil candidate changed long ago because of the changing face of Virginia.”That’s Virginia Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly who was born in New England. Democratic Congressman Jim Moran grew up in the same town after being born inWhere Were they Born to Run?http://wvtf.org/post/where-were-they-born-run
7932 as http://wvtf.orgMon, 22 Jul 2013 21:56:08 +0000Where Were they Born to Run?Beverly AmslerThe Institute for Policy and Opinion Research at Roanoke College is out with its latest poll on the gubernatorial election. Republican Ken Cuccinelli leads Democrat Terry McAuliffe 37 to 31 percent but Institute Director Harry Wilson says more than a quarter of registered voters haven't decided who to vote for in November. The poll interviewed 525 registered Virginia voters between July 8th and the 14th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3%. Roanoke College Releases the Latest Gubernatorial Poll Numbershttp://wvtf.org/post/roanoke-college-releases-latest-gubernatorial-poll-numbers
7694 as http://wvtf.orgWed, 17 Jul 2013 18:51:30 +0000Roanoke College Releases the Latest Gubernatorial Poll NumbersAnne Marie MorganTuesday is primary election day, with two statewide offices and also 18 House of Delegates and local races on the ballot. The statewide election is a high-stakes one, where voters will choose the Democratic nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general. But if history is any indicator, the candidates can expect a low voter turnout. Two Democrats are vying for Lieutenant Governor and two for Attorney General. But in 2009—even with gubernatorial candidates—the statewide primary turnout was roughly 6 percent of voters. The 2005 statewide races yielded a turnout of 2 to 4 percent. State Election Lead Matt Abell says the candidates are battling a trend. “We have some statewide races here for the Democratic Party, so the idea that it might be a little bit more interesting for folks and by that interest, they participate more. But historically, yes, primaries are not as highly participated in.” Democrats also have three House of Delegates seats on the ballot, while Republicans havePrimary Day in Virginiahttp://wvtf.org/post/primary-day-virginia
5833 as http://wvtf.orgMon, 10 Jun 2013 21:10:53 +0000Primary Day in VirginiaTommie McNeilMore than 13,000 GOP convention delegates have converged on Richmond from all over the state to confirm Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli as the party's gubernatorial nominee—and to nominate their candidates for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General on Saturday. Republican Convention in Richmondhttp://wvtf.org/post/republican-convention-richmond
4575 as http://wvtf.orgFri, 17 May 2013 20:35:15 +0000Republican Convention in RichmondAnne Marie MorganA Richmond judge has set a trial date for the felony embezzlement case of former Executive Mansion chef Todd Schneider, who is accused of stealing food from the residence. Schneider also catered the wedding of Governor McDonnell’s daughter, and his descriptions of the relationships between Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams, the McDonnell family, and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli have prompted new investigations but no new charges. Date Set in Chef's Embezzlement Casehttp://wvtf.org/post/date-set-chefs-embezzlement-case
4414 as http://wvtf.orgWed, 15 May 2013 15:01:55 +0000Date Set in Chef's Embezzlement CaseAnne Marie MorganMore than 13,000 Republicans are preparing to gather in Richmond for their state nominating convention that begins on Friday. They will choose their nominees for Lieutenant Governor andAttorney General—and given the large field, many say it’s been challenging to select only one for each office. In the last installment of our election series on the statewide candidates, we meet the final contender, Susan Stimpson—who is one of two women vying for Lieutenant Governor. The Run for Lieutenant Governor: Susan Stimpsonhttp://wvtf.org/post/run-lieutenant-governor-susan-stimpson
4302 as http://wvtf.orgMon, 13 May 2013 19:03:49 +0000The Run for Lieutenant Governor: Susan Stimpson